Timber Losses from West Fork Complex Fire in Southwest Colorado

This article provides an assessment of fire effects on timber burned in the West Fork Complex fire area, located in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. The West Fork Complex fire burned 109,615 acres in 2013, and suppression costs alone totaled $33.2 million. Much of the fire occurred in spruce–fir forests that were previously affected by spruce beetle (Dendroctonus rufipennis). Several timber sales were actively occurring within the fire footprint, and more were anticipated to begin in subsequent years. To provide a more accurate valuation estimate, base log stumpage data from 2003 through 2017 were included in this study to show high degrees of variation over time. With base log stumpage values determined, estimates of total hundred cubic feet of each significant species were calculated using geospatial and forest inventory analysis data. This study determined the timber value loss resulting from the coupled disturbance events of the spruce beetle epidemic and a wildland fire to be $19,083,102. This estimate will allow for a more accurate valuation of the actual damage resulting from the West Fork Complex fire. This study may also be useful in supporting the literary basis for salvage and fuels management after a beetle outbreak to prevent such timber value losses from occurring.